ElevateMeD Celebrates Five Years of Increasing Physician Workforce Diversity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The nonprofit supporting underrepresented medical students announces its 2024-25 Scholars Program Cohort
Scottsdale, Arizona- Launched on May 13, 2019, ElevateMeD celebrates the fifth anniversary of their commitment to prioritizing physician workforce diversity, closing the gap of financial inequity in medical education, and empowering the next generation of diverse physician leaders. To date, ElevateMeD has committed over $1.2M in scholarships and support for medical students from underrepresented backgrounds across the country. While health disparities continue to exist, bolstering the workforce is one tangible solution to the promotion of health equity in the United States.
The Board of Directors of ElevateMeD is proud to announce the 2024-25 Scholars Program cohort. This year’s cohort features 20 Scholars from medical schools nationwide, including the newest partner schools Creighton University School of Medicine, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, and The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Each Scholar will be awarded a $10,000 tuition-based scholarship, paired with a mentor, and participate in a nine-month leadership and professional development program. Each Scholar will also be invited to the ElevateMeD Scholars Summit (all expenses paid) in Phoenix, Arizona on September 20-22, 2024. The Scholars Summit is an opportunity for scholars to participate in a weekend of professional development workshops and gain access to a peer network of other aspiring physicians.
“As indicated by the recent JAMA open network publication, a diverse physician workforce positively impacts health outcomes, specifically where there are diverse patients,” shares Dr. Alyx Porter Umphrey, Founder and CEO of ElevateMeD. With only 13% of physicians identifying as Black/African American, Native American, Alaska Native, or Latinx, ElevateMeD aims to increase physician workforce diversity and improve cultural competence among physicians to reduce health disparities.
The ElevateMeD Scholars Program is a multifaceted program designed by ElevateMeD to develop the next generation of physician leaders from African-American/Black, Latino, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Native-American backgrounds. Once nominated and selected from the application process, each Scholar is awarded a tuition-based scholarship to minimize the financial debt burden in addition to physician mentorship, access to peer network support, leadership development opportunities, and financial management education.
“ElevateMeD was founded out of a gap, my husband, Dr. Gregory Umphrey and I, experienced in our own matriculation through medical school and beyond. Our commitment to eradicate health disparities through the investment in diverse future leaders in medicine has reached the milestone of over $1.2M awarded in scholarships and support. While this number humbles me, it’s the holistic approach we have taken with our ElevateMeD Scholars program that is truly priceless.”
This year’s application pool was highly competitive, featuring over 80 nominees from the 27 partnering medical schools. The 2024-25 Cohort of ElevateMeD Scholars and their respective institutions are as listed:
Ailyn Clara, UT Southwestern Medical School
Ayomide Odeneye, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
Casey Martinez, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Christopher Corona, Texas Christian University School of Medicine
Fatoumata Jawo, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Gloria Garcia, Indiana University School of Medicine
Jahlecia Gregory, Morehouse School of Medicine
Jaylyn Thompson, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Kendra Roland, University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Kenneth Clark, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Khadra Hussein, University of Minnesota
Michael Denning, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine
Mirelle Rojano, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Owen Saenz, The University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Paul Delgado, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Reyna Benitez, A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Sarah Rasmussen-Rehkopf, University of Washington School of Medicine
Sonia Pulido, University of Illinois College of Medicine
Steven Prado, Creighton University School of Medicine
Syndi Williams, Emory University School of Medicine
ABOUT ELEVATEMED:
ElevateMeD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to elevating medicine by providing scholarship, mentorship, leadership training, and financial management education to future physicians from African-American/Black, Latinx, and Native American backgrounds. Through our Scholars Program, we aim to increase physician workforce diversity and improve cultural competence among physicians to reduce health disparities. Learn more about our mission and vision by visiting elevatemed.org and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @elevatemedinc. View the 2023 Impact Report at impact.elevatemed.org.
Support ElevateMeD:
Give at give.elevatemed.org. Sponsor and attend Explosion of a Dream, the annual scholarship fundraiser event, held on September 21, 2024 at The Camby Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more ways to get involved.
